Galatians 5:15

KJV

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} if {G1487} ye bite {G1143} and {G2532} devour {G2719} one another {G240}, take heed {G991} that ye be {G335} not {G3361} consumed {G355} one {G240} of {G5259} another {G240}.

Complete Jewish Bible

but if you go on snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other!

Berean Standard Bible

But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

American Standard Version

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Galatians 5:15 serves as a potent warning against the destructive consequences of internal strife and disunity within the Christian community, particularly when believers fail to walk in the Spirit and instead yield to the impulses of the flesh. Paul employs vivid animalistic imagery to underscore how contentious behavior, fueled by legalism or other fleshly desires, can lead to the mutual self-destruction of the church, directly contradicting the law of love.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically positioned within Paul's fervent exhortation to the Galatian believers regarding Christian liberty. Having just urged them to [stand firm in the freedom Christ has given them](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Stand Firm in Liberty") rather than falling back into legalistic bondage, Paul then summarizes the entire law as being fulfilled in the command to [love one's neighbor as oneself](/galatians/5-14 "Galatians 5:14 - Love Fulfills the Law"). Galatians 5:15 immediately follows this profound statement on love, serving as a stark antithesis and a dire warning of what happens when love is absent. The imagery of "biting and devouring" vividly portrays the opposite behavior of love—a community tearing itself apart, likely fueled by the ongoing conflict between those advocating for adherence to the Mosaic Law (Judaizers) and those embracing the freedom of the gospel. This internal conflict posed a significant threat to the unity, witness, and very existence of the early church in Galatia.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Galatian churches were grappling with a severe theological crisis instigated by "Judaizers," who insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law to be true Christians. This teaching directly undermined the gospel of grace through faith alone. Paul's letter is a passionate defense of this gospel, emphasizing freedom in Christ over legalistic observance. The internal strife described in Galatians 5:15 was a direct consequence of this theological dispute, manifesting as bitter arguments, slander, and division within the congregations. In a society where community and honor were paramount, such public and internal conflict would have been particularly damaging to the church's reputation and its ability to attract new converts. The vivid imagery of animals fighting to the death would have resonated deeply with an audience familiar with the brutal realities of the natural world and the devastating effects of unchecked hostility.

* **Key Themes:** Galatians 5:15 contributes significantly to several major themes in the letter. Firstly, it highlights the **destructive nature of disunity** when believers succumb to fleshly impulses rather than walking in the Spirit. This verse underscores the severe practical implications of failing to live out the gospel's call to love. Secondly, it serves as a powerful illustration of the **antithesis to love**, demonstrating what happens when the fulfillment of the law, which is love, is neglected. The "biting and devouring" directly contrasts the command to [love your neighbor](/galatians/5-14 "Galatians 5:14 - Love Your Neighbor") and foreshadows the discussion of the [fruit of the Spirit](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit") as the antidote to such destructive behavior. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Christian liberty misused**, showing how freedom in Christ, if not tempered by love, can devolve into license and destructive conflict, rather than building up the body of Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **bite (Greek, _dáknō_):** This word literally means "to sting" or "to bite," and is used figuratively here to describe verbal attacks, sharp criticism, slander, or backbiting. It implies painful, irritating, and often insidious assaults that wound and undermine others within the community. The imagery evokes a venomous, piercing action.
* **devour (Greek, _katesthíō_):** Meaning "to eat up," "consume," or "destroy completely," this term suggests a more aggressive, all-consuming action than "biting." It implies a relentless hostility that seeks to utterly destroy a person's reputation, ministry, or peace, leaving nothing behind. It paints a picture of total consumption, like a predator consuming its prey.
* **consumed (Greek, _analískō_):** This word means "to use up," "waste," or "destroy." Used in the passive voice ("be not consumed"), it highlights the mutual destruction that occurs when the "biting and devouring" continues. The warning implies that if believers persist in tearing each other down, the entire community will ultimately be wasted away, depleted of its strength, witness, and vitality, leading to its own demise.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But if ye bite and devour one another":** This clause presents a conditional warning, describing a specific destructive behavior within the community. "Biting" suggests sharp, verbal attacks, slander, or painful criticism, while "devouring" implies a more aggressive, all-consuming hostility that seeks to destroy reputation, ministry, or peace. The phrase "one another" emphasizes the reciprocal nature of this conflict, where members of the same body are turning against each other.
* **"take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.":** This is the dire consequence and urgent admonition. "Take heed" (from _blépō_) means to be careful, to watch out, or to beware. The warning is that if the "biting and devouring" continues, the community risks being "consumed" or utterly destroyed, not by external enemies, but by its own internal strife. The passive voice ("be not consumed") highlights the mutual self-destruction that results from such unchecked hostility.

#### Literary Devices
Paul's use of **Metaphor** and **Simile** is striking in Galatians 5:15. By employing the imagery of "biting and devouring," he likens believers engaged in internal conflict to wild, ravenous animals tearing each other apart. This animalistic imagery vividly portrays the savage, dehumanizing, and utterly destructive nature of unbridled strife within the church. It's a powerful **Admonition** or warning, designed to shock the Galatians into recognizing the severity of their behavior and its ultimate consequences. The phrase "consumed one of another" also functions as a form of **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the outcome to emphasize the absolute ruin that awaits a community consumed by internal conflict. This dramatic language underscores the urgency and gravity of Paul's message, urging them to halt their destructive path before it leads to complete self-annihilation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Galatians 5:15 stands as a stark reminder that the Christian life, lived in the freedom of the Spirit, is not a license for self-indulgence or discord, but a call to love and unity. The theological implication is profound: disunity within the body of Christ not only grieves the Holy Spirit but also actively undermines the very mission of the church. When believers "bite and devour" each other, they contradict the essence of the gospel, which is reconciliation and peace, and they render their witness ineffective. This verse highlights the ongoing battle between the flesh and the Spirit, where the former leads to division and destruction, and the latter to love, joy, and peace. True Christian liberty finds its expression not in individualistic license, but in sacrificial love that builds up the community.

* [John 13:35](/john/13-35 "John 13:35 - Love as a Mark of Discipleship")
* [1 Corinthians 1:10](/1_corinthians/1-10 "1 Corinthians 1:10 - Call for Unity")
* [Ephesians 4:3](/ephesians/4-3 "Ephesians 4:3 - Endeavoring to Keep the Unity of the Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Galatians 5:15 is a timeless warning for every Christian community. It challenges us to honestly assess the nature of our interactions with fellow believers. Are our words and actions characterized by love, grace, and a desire for unity, or do we engage in "biting" through gossip, criticism, and slander, and "devouring" through relentless negativity, character assassination, or divisive behavior? The verse compels us to recognize that internal conflict, if left unchecked, will inevitably lead to the weakening and ultimate destruction of the church from within. Our energy, which should be directed outward in mission and inward in mutual edification, is instead wasted on internecine warfare. The antidote lies in actively walking in the Spirit, cultivating the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which are the very antithesis of "biting and devouring." We are called to prioritize the unity of the Spirit, to resolve conflicts constructively, and to extend grace and forgiveness, ensuring that our interactions reflect the self-sacrificial love of Christ rather than the destructive impulses of the flesh.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, or my church community, be "biting and devouring" one another, perhaps subtly or unintentionally?**
* **How does my commitment to Christian liberty manifest in my relationships with those with whom I disagree? Am I using my freedom to serve in love, or to justify conflict?**
* **What practical steps can I take to foster greater unity and love within my church, counteracting tendencies towards division?**
* **How does walking in the Spirit directly combat the "biting and devouring" tendencies described in this verse?**

### FAQ
**What does Paul mean by "bite and devour one another"?**

Answer: Paul uses vivid animalistic imagery to describe destructive behavior within the Christian community. "Bite" (Greek: _dáknō_) refers to sharp, painful verbal attacks, criticism, slander, or backbiting—words that wound and undermine. "Devour" (Greek: _katesthíō_) implies a more aggressive, consuming action, like destroying someone's reputation, ministry, or peace through relentless hostility. Together, these terms paint a picture of believers acting like wild animals, tearing each other apart, rather than living in the love and unity commanded by Christ. This behavior stands in stark contrast to the command to [love your neighbor as yourself](/galatians/5-14 "Galatians 5:14 - Love Fulfills the Law"), which Paul has just stated.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Galatians 5:15, with its stark warning against internal strife, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Himself. Christ did not "bite and devour" but rather [gave Himself for us](/galatians/2-20 "Galatians 2:20 - Christ Lives in Me"), demonstrating the ultimate act of self-sacrificial love that builds up rather than tears down. He is the Lamb of God, who, far from consuming others, was [consumed for the sins of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His entire ministry was characterized by humility, service, and a relentless pursuit of reconciliation, culminating in His prayer for the unity of His followers, that they "may be one, just as we are one" ([John 17:22](/john/17-22 "John 17:22 - Jesus Prays for Unity")). The unity that Paul desperately seeks for the Galatians is a direct reflection of the unity within the Godhead, and it is achieved not through legalistic striving or fleshly contention, but through the Spirit of Christ dwelling within believers, enabling them to [walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us](/ephesians/5-2 "Ephesians 5:2 - Walk in Love"). Thus, the antidote to "biting and devouring" is the indwelling Christ, whose Spirit produces the very love, joy, and peace that counteract such destructive tendencies, leading to the corporate flourishing of His body, the Church, in [unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace](/ephesians/4-3 "Ephesians 4:3 - Maintaining Unity").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 3:3

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Galatians 5:26

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

James 3:14

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

James 4:3

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

2 Corinthians 11:20

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour [you], if a man take [of you], if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

2 Corinthians 12:20

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and [that] I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

1 Corinthians 6:6

But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.